By road, Salinas and Chugchilán are about 257 miles (414 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 50 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3).
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Los Rios province, outside Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo provinces.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Slow-moving buses and trucks frequently stop in the middle of the road unexpectedly.”
| Distance by road | 257 mi (414 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | E40 → E48 → E30 |
| Provinces on the route | Santa Elena, Guayas, Los Rios, Cotopaxi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
How the Salinas to Chugchilán drive plays out
E40 (89 mi) and E48 (88 mi) carry about 69% of the 257 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Santa Elena, Guayas, Los Rios, Cotopaxi. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Salinas to Chugchilán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| E40 | 0–89 | 89 | Santa Elena, Guayas |
| connecting roads | 89–90 | 1 | Guayas |
| E48 | 90–178 | 88 | Guayas |
| connecting roads | 178–180 | 2 | Guayas |
| E30 | 180–222 | 42 | Guayas, Los Rios, Cotopaxi |
| local roads | 222–257 | 35 | Cotopaxi |
- Mile 43 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 46 of this route: Guayas → Santa Elena (province line)
- Mile 60 of this route: Santa Elena → Guayas (province line)
- Mile 181 of this route: Guayas → Los Rios (province line)
- Mile 209 of this route: Los Rios → Cotopaxi (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Salinas and Chugchilán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros (mile 109)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Blanco Forest (mile 77), Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (mile 90)
- Museums and history: Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros (mile 109)
Cerro Blanco Forest
Owned by Holcim Ecuador and managed by Fundación Pro-Bosque, Cerro Blanco Forest is a tropical dry forest reserve in Guayas Province, Ecuador.
Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil
Living plant collections grown for conservation, research and education fill the Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil, a 5-hectare botanical garden in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros
On the Malecón of Daule, steps from the Daule River, the Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros is a carved-wood cathedral, now reinforced with concrete, and seat of the Diocese of Daule.
More drives to Chugchilán
- Otavalo to Chugchilán
- Tulcán to Chugchilán
- Pasto to Chugchilán, Ecuador
- Popayán to Chugchilán, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Chugchilán, Ecuador
- Máncora to Chugchilán, Ecuador
From Salinas to other places in Ecuador
- Salinas to San Luis de Pambil
- Salinas to Guaranda
- Salinas to Alausi
- Salinas to Guano
- Salinas to Baños
- Salinas to Puyo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Salinas to Chugchilán?
About 6 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 257 miles.
How far is Chugchilán from Salinas by car?
About 257 miles (414 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Salinas to Chugchilán?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province; Ecuador: In Guayaquil: Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts, and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue (areas north of the avenue are Level 3)). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Salinas to Chugchilán use?
In order: E40, E48 and E30. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Salinas and Chugchilán?
Closest to the road: Cerro Blanco Forest (forest, mile 77, 0.3 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil (botanical garden, mile 90, 2 mi from the route); Catedral Santuario Señor de los Milagros (cathedral, mile 109, 0.6 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.